Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has said he is backing Bristol City to pick up the three points when they visit Aston Villa on New Year’s Day.

The Robins, currently sitting third in the table have been the surprise package of the Championship this season, mounting a bid for automatic promotion as they sit just one point and one place off Derby County in second.

Villa meanwhile have had a hit and miss season which has been disrupted by injuries, currently sitting just outside the play off spots in seventh, behind sixth placed Sheffield United on goal difference alone.

In what could be a pivotal tie in the clubs’ respective hopes for promotion this season, Prutton has revealed he is boldly expecting City to secure an away win in the two sides’ first match of 2018.

Predicting a 2-1 defeat for Aston Villa, Prutton wrote on Sky Sports’ website: “Aston Villa were dreadful at Brentford on Boxing Day but they did very well to get back to winning ways at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

“They’re still on the cusp of the top six but will need a good run from here to get back into contention for automatic promotion.

“Victory over Bristol City would be a good place to start, but I fancy the Robins to keep up their own bid with a victory at Villa Park, despite that late heartbreak against Wolves.”

Villa come into the clash off the back of a narrow 1-0 win away at Middlesbrough on Saturday, Robert Snodgrass netting the only goal of the game and securing the three points for a side heavily depleted by illness and injury.

City meanwhile were moments away from snatching a point at home to league leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers in a clash which saw both teams reduced to 10 men, before Ryan Bennett netted a last minute winner for the Midlands side.